surrounded by idiots - a short review
Notes on Erikson's book, communication and why most conflict isn’t personal
Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson is often misunderstood because of its title. It sounds arrogant, even dismissive - like a book written for people who believe the problem is always others. In reality, the book’s value lies elsewhere. It isn’t about labeling people as idiots. It’s about exposing how miscommunication, not malice, explains most everyday friction.
The premise is simple: people communicate differently, and most conflict comes from assuming theirs is universal. As he categorizes people into four color profiles, you realise Erikson’s four colors aren’t psychology. They’re a shortcut - a rough map of how people process speed, emotion, harmony, and detail.
What stayed with me wasn’t the model. It was the discomfort.
I noticed how often I mistake urgency for clarity.
How I assume precision is helpful when it’s just overwhelming.
How frustration usually appears when I expect others to operate on my defaults.
The book works best when used lightly. It’s not about labeling people. The moment you start doing that, you miss the point. The value is in the pause it creates - maybe they’re not difficult, maybe they’re different.
It also revealed something less flattering: how rarely I adapt. How often I expect others to meet me where I am instead of translating.
The title, in hindsight, is a trap.
It invites superiority - but rewards humility.
Read it not to explain people, but to soften your certainty.
Most misunderstandings aren’t personal.
They’re linguistic.
That realization alone made the book worth reading.
Used without it, it becomes exactly what it warns against.
The most valuable insight isn’t about others. It’s about yourself.
You notice:
How often you assume clarity when you’re just being familiar
How rarely you adapt your communication style, even when outcomes suffer
How much conflict is sustained by ego rather than misunderstanding
In that sense, the title turns inward. The “idiot” is often the part of us that refuses to translate.
Yet to read!